Process and device for separation of oils.



S. CORNELL. PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATION OF OILS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 22, I916- Patented Oct. 31, 1 916.

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.H. h 3 iii H 3 Q MW m FNM INVENTOR M A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIOE,

SIDNE Y CORNEIlL, 0F PAWLING, NEW YORK.

PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATION OF OILS.

Application filed January 22, 1916.

Machine shops, automobile repair houses .and garages accumulate from time'to time certaim quantities of waste oils and greases whlch are undesirable because of fire hazards, and are of no commercial use, due to the fact that they are mixtures of lubricating oils. burning oils and gasolene.

The object of this invention is the separ: tion of the g solene, benzins and other oils of a morevolatile nature from the heavier lubricating oils, greases, etc., that may exist in the mixture mentioned.

By means of the apparatus herein disclosed the --gasolene and benzin are separated clear from the heavier hydrocarbon oils and are refined asolene or benzin and fit for reuse as such, while the heavier oils remaining in the retort, consisting of a mixture of dirt and lubricating oils, may be further subjectcd to a treatment of filtration through a filter press to remove the dirt,-after which this oil is available as a fuel oil or for the rougher type of lubricant.

Gasolene and other highly volatile hydrocarbon oils can be vaporized by the introduction of steam of appropriate temperature and pressure, but if a small percentage of animal or vegetable oils is present, as it usually is in the'mixtures under consideration, the steam in passing through the body of the liquid emulsifies such animal or vegetable oil, and thereby causes the whole mass to assume an emulsified or frothycondition, in which condition distillation is retarded or completely stopped. In order to enable the more volatile constituents to be separated readily and cheaply from mixtures of the character described, and, at the same time to overcome the difiiculty which I have indicated. I provide a retorthaving means for introducing steam'into the mixture therein, together with certain heating means in the retort whereby the inimical efl'ect of emulsificationis neutralized or the. formation of 'an emulsion or frothy condition actually utilized.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the apparatus mainly in vertical section Specification of Letters Patent.

the steam supplied to the ring 15.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Serial No. 73,536.

The essentially novel part of the apparatus comprises a retort 10. and the parts therein contained. A mixture of oils to be treated is supplied to the lower part of this retort by suitable means through a pipe '11. A valve 12 in this pipe is indicative of means for controlling the amount of liquid in the retort and maintaining the level at an appropriate height. above the heater 13 and below the heater 14, presently to be described. Steam is introduced into the body of the oil mixture near the bottom of the retort, as by means of a distributing ring 15 provided with a multiplicity of jet, openings and connected with a source of steam supply. by a valved pipe 16.

The'heater 13 consists of a coil of unperforated sea'm pipe disposed within the liquid-holdinglower portion of the, retort, and is provided with suitable valve connections 17 and 18 whereby it may be kept full of steam; Another similar heater 14: is located in the vapor dome'31, constituting the upper part of the retort, and has valve connections 19 and 20. A connection 21 ma be provided for placing the coils 14: and 13 in series, and the valve 22 therein may be set so as to maintain a difference in pressure and temperature in the two heaters. A pipe 23 leads from the top of the vapor dome to a condenser, indicated in a conventional manner at 24, and from the condenser the pipe 25 leads to a separator 26. of known type, from which water of condensation may be drawn off through a pipe 28 and condensed gasolene or the like through a pipe 27. A valved outlet pipe 29 connects the bottom of the retort with a filter press of any suitable or known character. the same being indicated diagrammatically at 30.

In operation the oil mixture is supplied to the retort up to a height covering the coil 13. Saturated steam is then passed through the ring 15. Thepressure and corresponding temperature may vary from 10 pounds to 75 pounds. It is preferably 20 pounds. Steam is also admitted to the coils 13 and 14. The pressure of the steam in the coil 13 may be varied from approximately 20 pounds to 50pounds, though it is preferably higher than thatnof pressure of the steam in the upper coil 14 may likewise be varied between the approximate limits of '20 and 50 pounds, though it will be understood that in general I do not limitmyselfto anyspecifie temperatures and pressures. The steam admitted through the ring 15 heats up andagitatesthe mixture of oils and produces an emulsified condition, which would ordinarily render it impossible to distil the gasolene. The coil 13 preheats' the liquid. The injection of the steam through the heated body of oil causes a.

' steam, passover into the condenser and are there condensed. The residue .in the still con, tains lubricatin oil and dirt. At the end of a run, the still .eing blown out, the residue is forced by means of a pump through the filter press 30, designated, for example,- after thepattern ofthe well-known sugar refining apparatusfin which the dirt is removed from the oil. This oil can then be used as a fuel oil, or if .given another treatment of washing with soda, is fit for use as a lubricating oil. It will be understood that the invention isnot limited .t'othe precisev details. of construction shown.

What I claim as new is:

1. Apparatus for separating volatile hy--' drocarbon oils from oil mixtures, comprising aret'ort, means for supplying the same wlth a body of the oil mixture, means acting. upon the.

mixture to produce an emulsified froth com-- rising. a steam inlet. below the level. of they ody, anda heater. withinthe retort. above. the liquid. level constituted. to vaporize. the volatile: constitutents of. the. froth.

2.. Apparatus for separating. volatile hydrocarhon oils from oil mixtures, comprising a retort, means for supplying the same within the retort above the liquid level constituted to vaporize the volatile constituents of the froth.

, 3. Apparatus for separating volatile hydrocarbon oils from oil mixtures, comprising a retort, means for supplying the same with abody of the oil mixture, meansacting upon the" mixture to produce an emulsified froth comprising asteam inlet below the level of the body, a heater within the body of liquid above. the steam inlet, and a heater within the retortabove the liquid level constituted to vapo'rizethe volatile constituents of the froth. a

I 4. The method of separating volatile bydrocarbon' oils from oilmixtures, which comprises emulsifying. amixture of oils of mineral and-animal or vegetable. origin by introducing steam'into the same, allowing the resulting frothy emulsion to rise into contact with. a heated surface, and conducting off and condensing the vapors thus liberated. 5. The method of separating volatile hydrocarbon oils from oil mixtures, which comprises emulsifying a. mixture of oils of mineral and animal or. vegetable origin by in-' troducing steam into the same, supplying ad ditional' heat to the mixture, and. causing the;

frothy emulsion thus produced-to contactr witha heated. surface and. thereby liberating the: volatile constituents.

In. witness. whereof, I have hereunto day ofDecembe'r, 1915'.

my hand this 24th SIDNEY CORNELL. 

